Source: Chatham House –
Chatham House hosts conference in Addis Ababa on Africa’s rising influence
News release
jon.wallace
More than 700 virtual and in-person guests convened to discuss continental coordination and African-led solutions in international affairs.
The Chatham House Africa Programme partnered with Amani Africa and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to host a conference on 5–6 November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on ‘Africa’s rising influence: Advancing agency in foreign policy and global governance’.
More than 700 in person and virtual participants joined the conference, including representatives from multilateral organizations, diplomatic missions, research institutions, business, civil society and media communities.
Over the course of two days, the conference offered a rich programme of sessions exploring African approaches to multipolarity, the imperative of deeper regional and continental coordination, and the role of African-led solutions in peacebuilding, the global economy, climate action and soft power diplomacy.
Speakers at the event included Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Dr Gedion Timothewos; Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Chief of Staff to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security; Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya; and Dr A. Korir SingOei, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya.
Opening the conference, Chatham House Africa Programme Director, Tighisti Amare, said:
‘This gathering comes at a defining time for our continent: the rules-based international system is in flux, old alliances are being tested, new partnerships are emerging, and the global balance of power is shifting in complex and often unpredictable ways. In this context, Africa’s role, agency and responses to the global order are being redefined.’
HE Dr Gedion Timothewos said:
‘African agency, solidarity and cooperation are the foundations of our rising collective influence. The world’s challenges cannot be solved without African participation and leadership. Yet, participation alone is not enough. We must turn presence into influence, and influence into tangible outcomes for our people.’
The Africa Programme would like to thank the speakers, partners, funders and all those who attended the conference.